Netflix (USA): 50

The American biographical drama film, Mank (2020), directed by David Fincher and based on a screenplay written by his late father Jack Fincher, tells the story of screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz’s development of the screenplay for Citizen Kane. In 1940, RKO grants Orson Welles complete creative control for his next project. Welles enlists Mankiewicz, who is recovering from a car accident in Victorville, California, to write the script while dictating it to his secretary Rita Alexander. However, Alexander ...

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019), a Netflix and The Jim Henson Company collaboration, serves as a prequel to the 1982 fantasy film. This series delves into the world of Thra from the original movie and follows three Gelflings – Rian, Deet, and Brea – on their journey to unite their clans and overthrow the oppressive Skeksis. Their mission is to save Thra from destruction caused by the Darkening. Despite receiving positive reviews upon its debut on August 30, 2019, it was announced in September 2020 that the series would not continue for a second season. In a different world, at a different time and in a ...

Shaft (2019) is a film directed by Tim Story and written by Kenya Barris and Alex Barnow. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Jessie T. Usher, Regina Hall, and Richard Roundtree, it is the fifth installment in the Shaft series and a direct sequel to the 2000 film of the same name. This was also

In the film In the Tall Grass (2019), written and directed by Vincenzo Natali, a pregnant woman named Becky and her brother Cal are on a trip to San Diego. While taking a break, they come across a young boy named Tobin and his mother Natalie who are in distress in the tall grass. Despite their concerns, the siblings enter the grass and soon become separated as they realize the landscape is shifting unnaturally. As they try to leave, Becky encounters Tobin’s father Ross who warns her to stay close. However, she loses sight of him and Cal also has a strange encounter with Tobin involving a dead crow. According to ...

Always Be My Maybe (2019) is a romantic comedy, co-written by Ali Wong, Randall Park and Michael Golamco, and directed by Nahnatchka Khan. Sasha Tran and Marcus Kim are lifelong friends who grew up next door to each other in San Francisco. As a child, Sasha’s Vietnamese-immigrant parents often left her alone while they tended their store, so she spent many evenings at Marcus’ house where his Korean-American mother Judy taught her how to cook. Their friendship ...

The animated series, Carmen Sandiego (2019–2021), combines action and adventure with educational elements. It is based on the media franchise of the same name created by Broderbund. Black Sheep, an orphan girl, was discovered on the side of a road in Buenos Aires, Argentina about two decades ago. She was raised and trained to be a master thief by a group of villains who also serve as the faculty at V.I.L.E. Academy. This school is located on the Isle of V.I.L.E. in the Canary Islands and serves as a training ground for thieves and a secret criminal organization. To Black Sheep, this island and its faculty are her only home and family, but when she discovers the true ...

The epic historical film, The King (2019), directed by David Michôd, is based on various plays from William Shakespeare’s Henriad. Hal, also known as Henry, Prince of Wales, is the eldest son of King Henry IV of England. He has a distant relationship with his father and shows no interest in inheriting the throne. Instead, he spends his time drinking, engaging in promiscuous behavior, and making jokes with his friend John Falstaff in Eastcheap. However, things change when Henry IV reveals that Hal’s younger brother Thomas will be the new successor to ...

Marriage Story (2019), a drama film written and directed by Noah Baumbach, also produced by David Heyman. The play, helmed by Charlie Barber, successful theater director of Exit Ghost in New York City, stars his wife Nicole who used to be an actress but is now content with not acting. However, their marriage is suffering as they seek mediation and are advised to write down what they appreciate about each other. Despite agreeing to go through the process together, Nicole declines to read her words aloud and they decide to skip counseling altogether. Later, Nicole receives ...

The American science fiction thriller film In the Shadow of the Moon (2019) is directed by Jim Mickle and written by Gregory Weidman and Geoff Tock. In Philadelphia, Police Detective Locke and his partner Maddox are on the hunt for a female serial killer in 1988. After Locke takes her down in the subway, their boss Chief Holt declares the case closed without identifying the killer. Nine years later, similar crimes occur, leading Locke and Maddox to suspect a copycat. However, further investigation reveals that the killer is ...

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019), an American neo-Western crime thriller film, is part of the Breaking Bad franchise. Acting as a sequel and epilogue to the television series, it continues the story of Jesse Pinkman, who joins forces with former teacher Walter White to build a crystal meth empire in Albuquerque. In a flashback to their time together in Walter’s meth business, Jesse asks Mike Ehrmantraut where he would start over if given the chance. Mike mentions Alaska as an option, which piques Jesse’s interest. Despite expressing his desire to make things right for his past actions, Mike cautions that starting over would make that ...

The Spanish biographical drama film, The Photographer of Mauthausen (2018), directed by Mar Targarona, is set in 1943 during the height of World War II. Life in the Mauthausen camp is a merciless and cruel existence for its inmates, including soldiers who fought and lost in the Spanish Civil War. These men were exiled from Spain by General Franco after his victory, considered ‘no man’s land’ and gifted to the Third Reich as free labor. Against this backdrop of eternal horror and brutality inflicted by Nazis and Kapos (violent inmate guards), a young man named Francesc Boix struggles to survive as a ...

Mirage (2018), also known as Durante la tormenta in Spanish, is a mystery-drama film written and directed by Oriol Paulo. It takes place during the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and follows the story of a boy named Nico who witnesses a fight scene while recording a video in his house during an intense 72-hour electrical storm. In the midst of the chaos, he discovers the body of Ms. Weiss, wife of his neighbor Angel Prieto, and sees Prieto holding a knife. As Nico tries to flee, he tragically gets hit by a passing car. Mr. Prieto is later arrested with the murder weapon as Nico loses his life in the accident. ...

Based on Luke Pearson’s graphic novel series of the same name, Hilda (2018–2023) is an exciting animated streaming TV show that has received critical acclaim throughout its run. It tells the story of Hilda, a brave 11-year-old with blue hair, her mother Johanna, and their deerfox companion Twig as they move to Trolberg after their home in the forest is destroyed. Despite leaving the wilderness for a bustling city, Hilda still manages to make friends with even the most dangerous of monsters. The show has been recognized for its excellence, winning several Annie Awards, including ‘Best Children’s ...

Disenchantment (2018–2023), an animated fantasy sitcom on Netflix, marks the first time that renowned creator Matt Groening has produced a show exclusively for a streaming platform. Known for his work on The Simpsons and Futurama for Fox, Groening now brings viewers to the medieval fantasy realm of Dreamland, where we follow the adventures of Bean, a rebellious princess with a drinking problem, her elf sidekick Elfo, and her troublesome ‘personal demon’ Luci. The talented voice cast includes Abbi ...

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018) is an interactive film in the science fiction anthology series Black Mirror, written by creator Charlie Brooker and directed by David Slade. The film includes a brief tutorial, tailored to the viewer’s streaming device, which explains how to make choices. When faced with a decision point, the viewer has ten seconds to choose before a default option is selected for them. On average, the viewing time is 90 minutes, although the quickest pathway concludes after just 40 minutes. With 150 minutes of unique footage divided into ...

The Punisher (2017–2019), a Netflix original series developed by Steve Lightfoot, is based on the beloved Marvel Comics character. Set in the same universe as the franchise’s films and other shows, it serves as a spin-off from the initial Marvel Netflix production, Daredevil (2015-2018). In season one, former Marine Frank Castle – known as ‘the Punisher’ in New York City – seeks vengeance for his family’s tragic demise. However, he soon discovers a larger conspiracy beyond their murders. In season two, Castle finds himself embroiled in the investigation of Amy Bendix’s ...

The Defenders (2017) is a miniseries on Netflix, created by Douglas Petrie and Marco Ramirez, that brings together the Marvel Comics characters Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist to form a powerful superhero team. Set in the same universe as the popular franchise’s movies, this crossover event serves as the culmination of four previously released interconnected series from Marvel and Netflix. As they face a common enemy that threatens their cities and possibly the entire world, these diverse heroes must learn to trust each other and work together ...

Iron Fist (2017–2018), an American TV show produced by Marvel Television for Netflix, is based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name and created by Scott Buck. Set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it shares continuity with the franchise’s films and was the fourth in a series of Marvel shows on Netflix leading up to the crossover event The Defenders (2017). After being presumed dead for 15 years, Danny Rand returns to New York City. Upon his return, he faces doubts from childhood friends who now run his parents’ company about whether he is truly the rightful heir. Despite this, ...

First They Killed My Father (2017) is a biographical historical thriller film directed by Angelina Jolie and written by Jolie and Loung Ung, based on Ung’s memoir. Set in 1975 Khmer Republic, it follows the story of Loung Ung, a five-year-old girl and daughter of an officer in the Khmer National Armed Forces, known as ‘Pa’ to his seven children. As the Vietnam War spills over into Cambodia and the United States military begins bombing North Vietnamese forces ...

Bright (2017) is an American urban fantasy action film directed by David Ayer and written by Max Landis. Set in Los Angeles, the movie depicts a world where humans coexist with orcs and elves. The story follows LAPD police officer Dayl Ward, who becomes partners with orc officer Nick Jakoby. When an orc shoots Ward and Jakoby fails to apprehend the suspect, Ward begins to doubt his partner’s loyalty. During a routine patrol, the two officers arrest a man who claims that Ward is meant to fulfill a prophecy. Meanwhile, Internal Affairs pressures Ward to uncover the ...